For the last two weeks Jessica Ramm has been here at North Lands for the beginning of her RSA Residency. Her first week was spent with mentor and excellent tutor Carrie Fertig.

Jess sums up her stay at North Lands: “I’ve had a fantastic two weeks at North Lands Creative Glass. With the help of Carrie’s expert eye and tireless encouragement I feel that a whole new world has opened up in front of me. I have been kept spellbound from start to finish. Thanks to the RSA for making this residency possible and to all the inspirational people I have met throughout my stay.”

Carrie describes her week: “I have just spent a perfect week teaching flameworking to Jessica Ramm, an artist whose work I first encountered and was totally captivated by at the RSA New Contemporaries show in Edinburgh in 2010. One student, who couldn’t be more eager to learn as much technique as possible in five days, in the idyllic and ideal environment that is North Lands Creative Glass, with their multi-talented technician, Michael Bullen, equals the dream teaching situation. Ramms work is sculptural kinetic machines and her winning proposal for the RSA Residencies for Scotland was to learn to make lightbulbs as components of a new work. No small ask for someone with no previous glass experience! Not only a gifted artist but a gifted learner as well, it was a thrill to see someone progress so quickly in a set of skills that are not easy. I enjoyed this experience immensely and cannot wait to see what Jessica Ramm will do with these new skills. I’m sure it will be entrancing!”

Jess will be back for a further two weeks later in the year and we’re looking forward to her return.